Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens (Friends) is engaged volunteers who are immersed in and enthusiastic about the work they do to further the mission of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens.

Are you looking for an opportunity to benefit your garden, your community and your environment? Each year the goals of Friends are made possible by the commitment of our volunteers. The Gardens depend on people like you! Volunteers welcome visitors to The Gardens and provide information about The Gardens, grow and maintain areas within The Gardens and assist with many educational, plant and other events held annually. Our volunteers share a sense of caring, generosity and duty and meet many lifetime friends along the way. As a bonus our volunteers have fun and learn new skills while contributing their time to The Gardens. Whether you prefer working inside or outside, we offer opportunities for everyone. During 2014 statistical data shows that Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens’ volunteers donated an estimated 14,812 hours, a $341,713 value to the community. That figure is based on the National Value of Volunteer Hours (NVVH) calculated by the government each year at an hourly value $23.07/hour. Our total Membership is estimated at 400 per month.

Volunteer Opportunities…

Exciting volunteer opportunities exist in virtually every area of The Gardens. No experience is necessary for most positions and training will be provided. We are open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM; closed Monday and Tuesday.

For more information call a Volunteer Coordinator at 772.337.1959.

POSITIONS OPEN:

Gift ShopVolunteers will assist the Gift Shop Chair with the daily operation. If you enjoy working inside, this is the place for you. Gift Shop volunteers will participate in the selection and sale of books, gifts and other merchandise and must be capable of accurately handling money received. Excellent customer service skills while exhibiting a friendly and engaging personality are desired. Training will be provided for all Gift Shop procedures.

Welcome CenterWelcome Center volunteers meet and greet the public, answer questions and attend to their needs. They answer phones and assist with filing, mailings and general office duties. Administrative, organization and computer skills are helpful. Excellent customer service skills while exhibiting a friendly and engaging personality are desired. Training will be provided for all procedures.

Membership VolunteersOur Members and our Volunteers are the foundation of The Gardens. Both make The Gardens the success it is! The Member volunteers support The Gardens by providing important information about property to potential members. They attend Membership and other outside activities to provide Friends’ Membership information. They handle mailings, database entry and maintenance and other administrative work as needed.

Jazz Night VolunteersIf you like Jazz and the Blues this is the Volunteer opportunity for you! Enjoy a wonderful evening of music while volunteering at The Gardens. The Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society - Jazz Jams are held at the Port St Lucie Botanical Gardens every second Wednesday from 6:30 – 9:30 PM. We need Volunteers who can greet and meet jazz enthusiasts, collect entrance fees, tally number of people attending and be able to handle money. Training will be provided.

Special Event Volunteers

Friends offers many opportunities for volunteers that wish to help with special events:

Wedding and other special events – Help with all aspects including assisting with management and set up of these significant events.

Botanica Plant Sale – An annual event attended by 4,000+ people with 40 to 50 vendors. Work behind the scenes or with the public in preparing for and during this major event.

Monthly Plant Sales – Work behind the scenes or with the public in preparing for these monthly plant sales.

Children’s Events – Assist in the planning an implementation of fun children activities planned for ages 4 through 12.

Adult Educational Events – Assist with the event planning and securing of speakers’ for quarterly events.

Lots more Events – Help us make them successful!

HORTICULTURE VOLUNTEERS:

PropagationLearn how to remove and pot cuttings, plant seeds and repot plants. All propagation plants are prepared for our plant sales and provide revenue for The Gardens, or, are planted in The Gardens. As an added bonus this is a fun way to learn how to propagate plants for your own garden. No previous experience is required; training will be provided. No tools are required. Dress: Clothing appropriate to outdoor working conditions: sturdy shoes, gloves, hat and sun block as needed.

Garden StewardsGarden stewards are experienced, long-term volunteers who, once approved, work semi-independently in an assigned area of The Gardens. They can request their own worksite, work with the staff horticulturist to plan and prioritize the needs of a garden and are able to accomplish the work on their own. Garden stewards must have knowledge of soils, pruning and plant identification. Tools and materials are provided. An AA degree in horticulture, Master Gardener or related field or work equivalent is required. Dress: Clothing appropriate to outdoor working conditions - sturdy shoes, gloves, hat and sun block as needed.

Garden AssistantsFriends requires intensive ongoing gardening practices and maintenance. Garden assistants will experience all types of garden upkeep from ‘digging in the dirt’ to assisting with the implementation of new gardens. Responsibilities include weeding, mulching, planting and plant removal, grooming of paths, light pruning to maintain plant health, perennial plant care including deadheading and division, watering and fertilizing as well as basic plant labeling and inventory. Volunteers will learn and have fun too! We will provide training. Dress: Clothing appropriate to outdoor working conditions: sturdy shoes, gloves, hat and sun block as needed.

Plant Records AssistantsVolunteers will participate in developing and maintaining a plant records database that will provide a records center for all plants in The Gardens and will serve as the primary basis for collection interpretation, management and planning. Assist with keeping this vital information current through field inventory and data entry. Volunteers will become better acquainted with Friends, its diverse collection and also the records system. This is an exceptional opportunity to 'dig deeper' and become more familiar with the collection at The Gardens. Duties include: inventory of specified collection areas or taxonomic groups, verification of field status against record data and plant label placement.

Garden Tour GuideVolunteer garden guides welcome people at prearranged times and lead them on guided tours of The Gardens. They enhance the visitors experience by leading interactive, informative tours, sharing the history of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens and answering questions. This position is ideal for Volunteers with an outgoing personality and good communication skills, and who enjoy meeting the public and working with groups of children and adults. A good overall knowledge of The Gardens is required.

NOTES: Our botanical garden is centrally located in Port St. Lucie and includes seven and half acres of gardens, a 2-acre Lake and 14 acres of mangroves and wetlands. All of our 12 gardens, propagation area, shade house and the Garden Center are maintained solely by volunteers.

Interested in becoming a Horticulture Volunteer? Want to learn more about the Horticulture community. If you enjoy working outside, we have many Horticulture activities available for you such as propagating plants, landscape design, irrigation and greenhouse management, carpentry, garden maintenance, and yes weeding, pruning, mulching and trimming too. Join us and you can use your ‘expertise’ to make our Garden Grow.

Horticulturist Volunteer Hours: Thursday – Saturday 10:00AM – 12:00PM. Bring your gloves and clippers if you have them. Long pants, sleeves, hats are recommended. Closed, sturdy shoes are required. We will train you in horticulture practices.

Volunteers are welcome anytime even if it’s for a few hours a week. If you have a special place in the garden you want to call your own and want to work your own schedule, we will happily accommodate you.

Please contact our Horticulture Chair, Brenda Gustafson, If you want to learn how you can join our dedicated group of volunteer horticulturists – 772-337-1959​.

THANK YOU!!! The Gardens would not exist without our Members, Volunteers and Donors.The Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens is managed and operated by Friends of the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, Inc.